Spring is a wonderful time to teach students about plants and what they need to survive. Use the Growing Grassy Heads Activity to explore plants in your classroom. This fun Earth Day project not only teaches the steps to planting, but can also start a classroom discussion on our responsibility to take care of our earth!

I recommend using the Growing Grassy Heads Activity as an Earth Day project or sometime during the spring.

THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS EARTH DAY-INSPIRED ACTIVITY

This lesson will engage students in discussions about plant growth factors as well as using their compare and contrast skills. My printable worksheets will outline everything teachers need to implement this lesson in the classroom.

After planting, students will keep a Grassy Head Journal to record observations and the growth of the seeds. In their journal, students can include pictures of the cup and grass, track the height of the grass, and write sentences describing the growth of the grass.

With this project students will also participate in a Plant Comparison Writing Activity. By placing plants strategically around the classroom (some near sunlight and others not near sunlight), students will be able to compare the different environments in which plants thrive.Another element to alter can be the amount of water plants get. Discuss with students what make the best environment to grow their plant and why.

As students observe the plants in the various environments throughout the weeks, have them fill out a Compare & Contrast T-Chart Graphic Organizer.

HOW THE ACTIVITY WORKS

GATHER MATERIALS

• Clear plastic cup for each student (this allows your students to see the roots growing from the seeds and the progress the seedlings make as they move toward the surface of the soil)

• Potting soil

• Table spoon

• Grass seeds

• Watering utensil

• For the face: paper, markers, crayons and tape OR a headshot of each student

PLANT THE SEEDS

First, have your students fill their cup about 3/4 full of potting soil.

Next, sprinkle grass seeds on top of the soil.

Then, cover the seeds with a layer of potting soil.

Finally, water the seeds so that the soil is barely wet (do now over water).

WATER, WATCH, AND WRITE!

After planting, explain to your students the seeds now have soil and water, but they also need sunlight in order to grow. Put the cups on a sunny windowsill.

Remember to water the grass before the soil gets dry, but only until the soil is moist.

Have students keep a journal recording the growth of the seeds (available for download). In their journal, students can include pictures of the cup and grass, track the height of the grass, and write sentences describing the growth of the grass.

DECORATING AND HAIRCUT TIME

Have your students decorate the cup with a “face.”

Use paper and markers or crayons to create a mouth, a nose and eyes OR you may want to use a headshot of each student (just a photo of their face, no hair because the grass will look like his/her hair).

Tape the face to one side of the cup (this way, you can still turn the cup to see the soil and roots of the plant). As the grass grows, it will look like it has hair on top. Your students can even give the grass a “haircut” and the grass will grow back!

PLANT COMPARISON ACTIVITY

By placing plants strategically around the classroom (some near sunlight and others not near sunlight), students will be able to compare the different environments in which plants thrive.

Another element to alter can be the amount of water plants get. Discuss with students what make the best environment to grow their plant and why.

As students observe the plants in the various environments throughout the weeks, have them fill out a Compare & Contrast T-Chart (available for download).

INTRODUCE OTHER EARTH DAY THEMES

Finally, use the Growing Grassy Heads Activity to introduce other Earth Day themes. Why are plants important to sustaining life? How does pollution impact plant life? Why do we recycle? How can we protect the Bee population and why is it important?

IN SUMMARY

Use this simple grass growing activity to teach students about planting, plant growth factors, and discuss our responsibility to take care of the earth. Download a Growing Grassy Heads Activity to access the instruction sheet, journals, and t-charts needed to complete this lesson!

EARTH DAY PROJECT RESOURCES: